Rachelle's blog

House Plants and Health

Rachelle — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:55:24 +0000

Over the past several months I have added dozens of house plants to our home. In large part, this was to decorate the interior. The plants are luscious, healthy and beautiful. They are wonderful additions to the aesthetic of our home. As well as enhancing the beauty of the spaces they inhabit, house plants are associated with a number of therapeutic benefits.

Wheat and Your Skin

Rachelle — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:22:49 +0000

Wheat is a cereal grain cultivated around the world. It is a leading source of vegetable protein in the human diet and, after rice, is the main human food crop. Clearly, wheat is a valuable food source. As with most things in life, with the good comes some bad. Wheat is associated with a number of health issues. Among more well-known wheat-associated disorders such as allergic and autoimmune (e.g., celiac disease) are those related to increases in insulin. Wheat-induced increases in insulin are linked to a number of negative outcomes. Included in these is acne.

It Takes Two

Rachelle — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 15:44:25 +0000

Ah yes, that old adage….

Healthy sperm, is an important piece of the reproductive puzzle. Unfortunately, the health of these little swimmers can, and often is, neglected in the quest for optimal reproductive health. When preparing for conception and a healthy baby, it is equally important for the man to nurture his physical and mental well- being as it is for the women.

Take a Break, It's Good For You!

Rachelle — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:58:48 +0000

The Health Benefits of Travel

Travelling is definitely one of my favorite things. I have fond memories of family vacations as a child, travelling with girlfriends after high school and now family vacations with my husband and children. Travel has always been incredibly rewarding and enjoyable for me. While it has been generally accepted for centuries that travel and vacations provide time to relax and rejuvenate, more and more research indicates that travelling may also provide long-term health benefits.

Aspartame and Reproduction

Rachelle — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:06:49 +0000

Although I prefer writing positive blogs, I feel strongly enough about aspartame and its possible negative effect on fertility to devote this blog to a gloomy issue. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used mainly in low-calorie products (see common foods with aspartame). It is derived from aspartic acid and phenylalanine and contains methanol.

Fertility-Friendly Cooking

Rachelle — Mon, 26 May 2014 18:21:06 +0000

I was looking for some dinner inspiration the other night, so I opened my new cookbook, “It’s All Good” by Gwenyth Paltrow and Julia Turshen. One recipe in particular caught my eye, “Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Mustard and Parsley”. My first thought was, what interesting combinations. More importantly, was the delicious use of a cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower. Yummy!

Cupping Therapy

Rachelle — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:16:42 +0000

A lesser known therapy, but one of my favourites, is cupping therapy. I use cupping in conjunction with an acupuncture treatment. Time and time again, I find my patients have never heard of this surprisingly pleasant method of treatment. So, let's talk about it!

Seaweed and Fertility

Rachelle — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 20:21:13 +0000

Seaweed is the commonly used name for a large range of marine (both fresh and salt water) plants and algae. Seaweed is full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Most notable is its high content of iodine, a nutrient seldom found in other foods. Seaweed not only provides the base of most marine food chains, but also provides a wide range of benefits to humans (see this article for a more comprehensive discussion of the benefits). Among these benefits are dietary and medicinal.

Keep Your Gut in Check

Rachelle — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:56:49 +0000

The time has finally come. This is the year I am going to put in a great effort to be more mindful of the foods I am consuming. Obviously, cutting out gluten and refined sugars are high priorities. However, before I focus on eliminating foods from my diet, I would like to start on a more positive note by including healthy foods in my diet. Foods which are fun, cheap and easy to make at home. Foods such as pickles, kim chee and sauerkraut. Yum! As scary as it may sound, I am going to try my hand at making my own fermented foods.

Feed Your Jing, Nourish Your Fertility

Rachelle — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:23:07 +0000

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing refers to our genetic blueprint. Jing is passed from parents at conception. In order to increase fertility and pass along strong Jing to our children, a healthy lifestyle is important. Among other things, eating healthy food, getting enough rest and managing stress play roles in supporting Jing. Jing is stored in the kidneys. In Chinese medicine, the kidneys are associated with the reproductive system. Therefore, when thinking of foods to support your fertility (i.e., to impact the quality of your eggs or your sperm) nurture your Jing.